WHAT IS A GINGIVECTOMY SURGERY

When you experience pain, sensitivity, swelling or other forms of discomfort, your dentist can recommend a number of dental processes that can give you relief. Gingivectomy is one such process. As a dental procedure, it involves using a hard tissue laser or an old gold standard technique with a scalpel to remove the gum tissues.

Gingivectomy is recommended generally when a patient has loosened gums that have shifted away from the teeth. The removal of tartar and plaque is usually complicated in this case because of the formation of deep pockets. A gingivectomy is performed by an oral surgeon in this situation to stop the gum disease from spreading to the jawbones where there will be a removal and restoration of the loose gum tissues so that the deep pockets can be effectively treated.

Immediately the pocket walls have been gotten rid of, it becomes easier to detect the tartar which makes for a thorough scaling and also planning of the tooth roots to happen. After the process is completed, healing and restoration are then set in motion. Gingivectomy was originally designed to serve as a curative measure for the periodontal disease but more recently, it has been carried out as a form of cosmetic surgery as well to get rid of gum tissue that is overgrown. Gingivectomy surgery, however, is different from gingivoplasty which is a procedure for reshaping the gums to give them a more natural look as gingivoplasty can also be done during gingivectomy or after the process of gingivectomy is completed.

Reasons for Gingivectomy or Gingivoplasty

Gingivectomy might be recommended to you by your dentist when you have deep pockets in between your gums and teeth because of periodontal disease. Undergoing gingivectomy will help to alleviate the pains that come with having periodontal disease. One major reason why you should undergo gingivectomy include;

• To take out deep gum pockets which promotes the accumulation of tartar and plaque, which in turn leads to gum disease.

You can opt for gingivectomy also when you have a noticeable gingival enlargement in order to give your teeth a more proportional and beautiful look. This may be caused by a number of factors which includes:

• Inflammatory – Poor oral hygiene practices is the major cause of this condition. If a good oral hygiene technique is resumed then there would be no reason for surgery.

• Medication-induced – Some medications can contribute to this condition and cause excess growth in the gum tissue to occur such as some calcium channel blockers and certain seizure medications.

• Heredity Gingival Fibromatosis – This condition is quite rare and may not become a source of critical disturbance until adulthood. In this case, it may be required to undergo repeated gingivectomies.

Also, it is noteworthy that for some people, they just have long gums naturally which gives their teeth a shorter appearance than they may desire so they may undergo this process strictly for cosmetic purposes.

What to Expect

The procedure generally starts with traditional root planning and scaling so that as much bacteria and damaged gum tissue as possible can be removed. Your dentist will then administer a local anesthesia to numb your gums. Before surgical scalpels were widely used but in more recent times, a laser device will instead be used to treat your troubled gums. Lasers are more popular as they treat gums faster and with very little or even no bruising afterward. Also, lasers give a massive antibacterial effect and the pain is practically nonexistent when you’re being treated with it. Your gums will be protected with a surgical dressing by your dentist after the procedure in order to prevent infections and also to boost the healing process. After a space of between one week to 10 days, the dressing will be taken off. Your oral hygiene routine must be top notch after removal of the dressing. It will be strongly recommended that you consume only soft foods so that you do not rupture your healing gums.

How To Know You Need Gingivectomy

The obvious first step you need to take is to visit your dentist so that you can have your gum tissues examined. If it is noticed that you have some symptoms of periodontitis which is the advanced gum disease, then it is almost certain that you will be needing you a gingivectomy surgery. Some of the symptoms of periodontitis include pain, loose gums that have shifted from their normal position, bleeding and swollen gums, and bad breath. You could be treated via surgery or laser but your oral specialist will determine which depending on how intense your case is. If your case is at a very advanced stage, your last resort might be to opt for surgery. Although if your doctor thinks otherwise, and that laser gingivectomy will be preferable and more effective then it will be carried out instead.

Generally, though, laser treatment is more comfortable than gingivectomy with surgery and will give the desired results as well. Any doubts or fear you may have regarding the process of gingivectomy can be handled by your dentist, so it is advised that you ask them any questions you might have. Your oral surgeon will play their part in making sure your treatment comes out successfully but you should also play your own role by maintaining a good oral hygiene routine after treatment. Tips will be given to you by your dentist on how best to cater to your teeth after treatment. You should religiously follow through on all such tips and also be sure to keep any subsequent appointments that you may have with your doctor in order to keep your teeth and gums in prime shape.

So there you have it. If you have gum disease, or your gums are simply too long, all you might need to ease your discomfort might just be to check in with your dentist to determine if you are eligible for gingivectomy surgery, and your problems will almost automatically become a thing of the past.

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